Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method for synthesizing
nanocrystalline zeolites, the method comprising contacting starting
products that comprise a solvent, a silicon source, a cation base, an
organic template, and an aluminum source, or any combination thereof
sufficient to produce a zeolite gel by hydrolysis, heating the zeolite
gel sufficient to produce a first batch of zeolite crystals and a first
clear solution, separating the first batch of zeolite crystals from the
first clear solution, heating the first clear solution sufficient to
produce a second batch of zeolite crystals and second clear solution and
separating the second batch of zeolite crystals from the second clear
solution. In addition, embodiments relate to a method of using
nanocrystalline zeolites, the method comprising contacting a
nanocrystalline zeolite with a reductant sufficient to produce a
nanocrystalline zeolite with adsorbed reductant and exposing the
nanocrystalline zeolite with adsorbed reductant to reactant gases
sufficient to obtain reaction products and the nanocrystalline zeolite.